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Human Rights & Democracy

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Human Rights & Democracy

Teaser Video HR70

EU launches campaign to celebrate

70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

 

70 years - Universal Declaration of Human rights

The promotion and protection of human rights is at the heart of multilateralism, a central pillar of the UN system, and a core and founding value of the EU.

This year we mark the 70th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and join UN Human Rights in inviting everyone to

 

#Standup4humanrights.

 

The Universal Declaration is the cornerstone of international human rights law and its first article captures its very essence:

"All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights".

Human rights should be universal, indivisible and interdependent.

While the international human rights system has come under increasing pressure, it still continues to show great resilience to withstand challenges.

Human Rights Defenders all over the world embody that resilience. These are some of their stories.

The EU stands up and continues to relentlessly support human rights defenders, to speak out against the shrinking civil society space, and to use political and financial action to support them.

They stood up, will you?

All Videos HR70

The European Union views all human rights as universal, indivisible and interdependent. It actively promotes and defends them both within its borders and when engaging in relations with non-EU countries.

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News stories
eu global strategy

From Vision to Action: The EU Global Strategy in Practice - Three years on, looking forward

High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini has presented the third progress report on the implementation of the European Union Global Strategy, “The EU Global Strategy in Practice - Three years on, looking forward”, which will be discussed by the EU Foreign and Defence Ministers at the Foreign Affairs Council on 17 June 2019 in Luxembourg. The report looks at the progress achieved over the past three years, since the presentation of the Global Strategy in June 2016, in five priority areas - the security of the Union, state and social resilience to our east and south, an integrated approach to conflicts and crises, cooperative regional orders and global governance for the 21st century - and provides possible orientations for the way forward in the coming years.

Friday, 14 June, 2019 - 08:45
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News stories
rainbow flag, International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia

"No person should be punished for loving someone," Mogherini says

Across the globe, cultural, traditional or religious values continue to be used to justify persecution, discrimination, bullying and ill-treatment against LGBTI persons. Even in countries with legal protection, stigmatisation due to homophobia, transphobia and biphobia remains high. It is our duty to combat this, notably through our policies, concrete actions and communication, which should be inclusive, respectful and leaving no one behind.

Friday, 17 May, 2019 - 17:07
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News stories
human rights

Human rights and democracy in the world: EU annual report 2018 adopted

At a time when human rights are challenged on a daily basis with many attempts to undermine the universality and indivisibility of human rights, the EU has remained at the forefront of the protection and promotion of human rights and democracy, be it in international forums, bilaterally with governments or through concrete support to the civil society.

Monday, 13 May, 2019 - 16:22
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News stories
press freedom, world press freedom day

With free journalism under increasing pressure, the EU reaffirms determination to defend press freedom worldwide

This year's theme for the World Press Freedom Day is “Media for Democracy: Journalism and Elections in Times of Disinformation”. The theme covers current challenges faced by media in elections, along with the media’s potential in supporting peace and reconciliation processes.

Friday, 3 May, 2019 - 11:52
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News stories
DEMINING, mine awareness day, mine action

EU mine action and victim assistance across the globe

34-year-old taxi driver Omar Musa, was amongst 40,000 Libyans who, together with his family, had to flee from the city of Tawergha after the 2011 revolution in Libya. People were living in dire conditions in camps spread across the country. Seven years later, Omar was finally able to return home. “When I arrived I was not aware of the danger that I faced. However, I found billboards and posters on the walls near the entrance of the city with emergency phone numbers to report any explosive remnants of war. I did not really understand what that meant at the time." Indeed, in such situations, the EU supports projects to raise awareness about unexploded ordnances and mines, and to help clear people’s properties so that they can return safely home.

Thursday, 4 April, 2019 - 00:29
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